Clinical Education Program

Students at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center participate in 5 clinical
internships designed to prepare the student to perform in a variety of practice settings
following graduation. Students are required to complete at least one internship each
in an acute, rehab and outpatient setting. Two internships (5 weeks each) are scheduled
during the didactic portion of the curriculum and the last three internships (8 weeks
each) occur after all coursework has been completed.

Internship sites are located across the country with the greatest number of clinical
sites concentrated in West Tennessee. Assignments are made using a lottery system.
Students are expected to travel and live in a variety of locations in order to complete
all of the internship requirements. Students should also be prepared to assume the
financial and personal obligations associated with this travel.

Any facility interested in becoming a clinical site should contact Jacque Bradford
or Marie Hatten.

Assignment of Clinical Sites

The University of Tennessee adheres to the APTA recommended universal mailing schedule
when requesting clinical internship slots. Request forms are sent on March 1st of
each year, requesting slots for the next calendar year.

Clinical internships are assigned through a lottery process. Sites will be notified
if their facility has OR has not been selected approximately 6 months prior to the internship date.

If a clinical facility needs to cancel a student internship, please notify the University
program as soon as possible to allow the program and student time to make alternative
arrangements.

Privileges for Clinical Educators in our Program

Physical therapists who participate in our Clinical Education program are eligible
to enroll in our continuing education/graduate courses at a reduced fee. Typically, each course lasts one weekend, and you are awarded 30
continuing education units. The normal fee is $600 per course, but for those who participate
in our program, the cost is only $300! (Exclusion: Cost of Anatomy Cadaver Lab Course
is reduced, but not by 50% due to the cost of the cadaver.) Class sizes are limited.
For more information contact Carol Counts Likens, PT, PhD at clikens@uthsc.edu.

Other Benefits Offered

CIs and CCCEs receive library privileges at the library on UTHSC’s campus upon request.

CIs and CCCEs will have access to textbooks in PT Library upon request.

Opportunity to host an in-service provided by UTHSC academic faculty at your facility
upon request.

Opportunity to serve on the Clinical Education Advisory Committee.

Access to informational blog for clinical educators for current news and updates.

Recognition as adjunct faculty once requirements are met.

Information for Clinical Educators and Students

The following documents are in PDF format and require Adobe Reader, which is a free download.

All clinical sites are encouraged to update the Clinical Site Information Form (CSIF) annually. Students and faculty use your completed CSIF to learn more about your facility
and clinical education program.

Relevant documents:

Student Information Form. Clinical Sites with assigned students will receive a Student Information Form (SIF)
from the University approximately 8 weeks prior to the student's arrival. This form
will contain demographic information about the student as well as the student's goals
and objectives for the internship.

Midterm Progress Report. For clinical internships I and II, all clinical instructors and students are asked
to complete this 2 page form and submit it to the DCE. This form allows the clinical
instructor to evaluate the student at the halfway point during the internship. This
form also provides the student with the opportunity to self-assess his or her strengths
and weaknesses and to communicate these to the clinical instructor and DCE. Students
are also asked to let the DCE know if the clinical instructor would like a phone call
or site visit to discuss the student's performance.

Clinical Performance Instrument. UTHSC uses the web version of the APTA Clinical Performance Instrument (CPI) for
the evaluation of student performance (https://cpi2.amsapps.com). Clinical instructors are asked to complete this online form at midterm for internships
III, IV and V, and at the conclusion of all internships. Use of the CPI as a self-assessment
tool for the student is also required by the University. Clinical instructors and
students should discuss the CPI evaluations.

Documentation of Contact Hours. The Department of Physical Therapy will provide documentation of clinical instructor
contact hours following the completion of internships. Certificates with documentation
of contact hours will be mailed out within a few months following the completion of
the internship.